What I've Learned About Living Alone

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

I've (somehow) been living on my own for a year now. The experience can be summed up pretty well by a tweet my friend posted recently: "Living alone sucks as much as it is awesome." It sounds bleak, but it's true. Living alone can be daunting. It takes a bit of work. At the same time, it's one of the best things you can do for yourself. Time you spend living alone is time you spend growing, even if you don't realize it.

I think it's worth noting that I've always been very against living by myself. My plan was to graduate college, stay at home for at least a year, then move in with a friend. Instead, I moved into my own apartment five months after graduation. Even then, as excited as I was, a little part of me was still peeved. I didn't want to be doing this alone. I didn't want to live by myself, but I wanted to move out and none of my friends were able to do it with me, so I did.

Now here I am, glad it happened. And I've learned a few things along the way.

The beginning will be the hardest. And the most expensive. Prepare for that.

You don't know how much you take for granted in your parents' home until you move out and have to buy things like condiments, batteries, and tupperware. (You mean they don't just come with the place?)

You'll cry about money at first and feel like the poorest human who's ever been poor.

Then you'll realize it's okay. You'll make it work. Your rent will be paid and you'll still be able to go out with friends.

You don't have to wear pants, and it's awesome.

There's no one to fight with over bed space, so spread out and enjoy it.

There's no one to fight with over the bathroom. It's yours whenever you want it. You can put stuff wherever you want!

In fact, you can leave whatever you want wherever you want whenever you want!!!

So remember to clean, because you'll realize you're a bigger slob than you thought.

Household chores can feel overwhelming when it's all up to you. Do a little bit every day.